Young rivals show beef, sheep and swine at COVID-19-adapted coming together
Blaine Gillen, 2, walks around the La Plata County Fairgrounds Pavilion on Wednesday with his rope as family members compete during the La Plata County Fair. Young farmers, ages 5 to 18, participated in various livestock and non-livestock events through 4-H and Future Farmers of America clubs.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Annabel Carithers, 14, competes Wednesday in the grand champion drive market class during the La Plata County Fair in the pavilion of the La Plata County Fairgrounds. Like many, Carithers bemoaned the fair’s lost traditions, like seeing many of her friends compete, but felt happy the youth events could take place.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
At the La Plata County Fair, champion showmanship comes down to eye contact with the judge, said Rylie Zufelt, 18, reigning champion of the senior cattle showmanship competition.
“Eye contact is very key. I get a look on my face which everyone calls RBF – you know what that means,” Zufelt said. It means resting b---- face, she said. “You’re like, ‘Look at me, but look at my animals more.’”
The county fair is generally a friendly place where everyone looks forward to being together, but this year’s young farmers are still keeping an eye on the competition.
While some communities canceled their county or state fairs because of the coronavirus pandemic, La Plata County’s approach was to focus on the youths. 4-H and Future Farmers of America livestock shows and the Junior Auction are the only in-person events. Most others were canceled. For many attendees, first-place prizes come with bragging rights, but at the end of the day, the fair is more about community.
“There’s competition. When it’s all said and done, they pick the champion and reserve, you see the kids out there hugging. They just love each other,” said Kayce Chadborn, the fair’s poultry superintendent. “They’re all competitive, but it’s not competitive like other things.”
Competitors keep their eyes on the judge while competing in showmanship Thursday during the La Plata County Fair.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
On Thursday, about 80 to 100 people gathered at the La Plata County Fairgrounds pavilion to watch 35 young farmers participate in the beef breeding, market and showmanship competitions. Very few wore face coverings, which help reduce transmission of the coronavirus and were recommended, not required, at the open-air event. The fair continues with swine shows Friday and the Junior Auction on Saturday. It kicked off with poultry, goats and sheep.
Nearly everyone disagreed about which aspect of the fair is most competitive.
When it comes to the quality of the animal, some said market cattle; others hogs.
“The sheep were pretty competitive,” said Brock Fassett, 14, who won grand champion breeding cattle. “I’ve shown for six years, and it’s probably the most competitive it’s ever been.”
The young farmers first show their animal within divisions. The first-place winner in each division goes on to compete for grand champion or reserve grand, i.e., second place, for its livestock category.
“The kids get bragging rights,” said Amber Baird, who helps the Catch-It Beef Show. “If you get champion, it’s a big, big deal. But it’s an even bigger deal if you win in Denver.”
Bailey Smith, 14, shows Alice in the catch-it project category on Thursday during the La Plata County Fair.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
But when it comes to the competition among the young farmers themselves, it’s all about the showmanship competition. That’s when the young farmer demonstrates the animal’s training.
Guy Wright, a 17-year-old Bayfield student, said Zufelt was his main showmanship competitor before this year’s Senior Showmanship competition.
“She won last year, and the year before that,” Wright said. “We’re competitive, but we’re best buds after.”
The judge, Danny Davis, planned to score them based on the farmers’ confidence, like posture and how they carry themselves. He also looked at how the animals position their feet and follow the young farmers’ lead.
“When you’re in the ring, you don’t want to be tense. You want to be natural, but you want to have fire in your eyes,” Wright said. “You want to get your game face on.”
The winner gets a trophy belt buckle, bragging rights and the opportunity to go on to other competitions like Round Robin, a showmanship competition with all types of livestock.
This year, the champion buckle and the bragging rights went to Zufelt for the senior division.
“It felt good, especially being rewarded for all the work that’s gone in during COVID,” Zufelt said. “I feel like the fair helps grow your family. It’s something fun, you get to show off hard work, meet new people and learn new life skills.”
smullane@durangoherald.com
Annabel Carithers, 14, competes in the grand champion drive market class during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Maryann Fassett, 11, left, who won the grand champion, and her sister Emma Fassett, 8, won reserve champion, both in the grand champion drive market sheep class, hug their mom Kali Fassett during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Blaine Gillen, 2, walks around the La Plata County Fairgrounds Pavilion on Wednesday with his rope as family members compete during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Paige Porter, 16, left, with Clyde, Maryann Fassett, 11, center, with Sammy, and Madison Mortimer, 18, with Mojo, compete in sheep market class as judge Daniel Melendrez looks them over during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Judge Daniel Melendrez looks over sheep in the grand champion drive market class during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Competitors line up for the grand champion drive market class during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Buckles and ribbons during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Competitors line up for the grand champion drive market class during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Competitors fill the arena for the grand champion drive market class during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Family members watch the sheep competition during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
La Plata County Fair royalty presented awards during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Madison Mortimer, 18, left, congratulates Emma Fassett, 8, who won reserve grand champion, and her sister Maryann Fassett, 11, winning the grand champion in the grand champion drive market class during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Emma Fassett, 8, who won the reserve grand champion ribbon in her division gets a hug from her dad Brad Fassett during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Emma Fassett, 8, who won reserve grand champion, and her sister Maryann Fassett, 11, winning the grand champion in the grand champion drive market class hug their mom Kali as dad Brad looks on during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Laura Pargin, superintendent of the home ec entires, and Jared Carrillo, a judge of the cake decorating category, look over the entries during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the Exhibit Hall at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Entries in the cake decorating category in the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the Exhibit Hall at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Entries in the cake decorating category in the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the Exhibit Hall at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Leighton Engle won the grand champion ribbon in the food preservation category in the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the Exhibit Hall at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Katalina Lopez, 7, and her brother Zane, 4, hang out with her lamb Zeke, that she will show in the breeding and catch-it project during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Katalina caught a lamb last year in the catch-it contest and then bred it and will now show the ewe and lamb together. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Payton Martinez won the grand champion ribbon in the cake decorating category in the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the Exhibit Hall at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Denise King-Stovall judges the horseless horse catagory in the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the Exhibit Hall at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Sydney Flores won the grand champion ribbon in the knitting category in the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the Exhibit Hall at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Matt Fuher holds his son Bodie, 2, on Thursday during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Competitors keep their eyes on the judge while competing in showmanship Thursday at the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Competitors keep their eyes on the judge while competing in showmanship Thursday at the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Family members cheer on contestants while they show their cattle Thursday during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Brad Pontine trims the back of Baloo, a steer that his daughter, Kylee Pontine, 13, will show showed during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Bailey Smith, 14, shows Alice in the catch-it project category Thursday a the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Laura Witt, 16, blow dries Danny, a Hereford that she showed Thursday during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Gary Wright, 15, blow dries Red, which he showed Thursday during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Matt Fuher holds his son Bodie, 2, on Thursday during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Cattle had their day on Thursday during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Cole Swanemyr washes Shamus, which his daughter Mackenzie will show in market beef during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Cattle had their day on Thursday during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Bailey Smith, 14, shows Alice in the catch-it project category on Thursday during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
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